and bounds.

Men came h

from all parts of the Uni They came from the North, South, the East, and the Mid West. The increase in the pop lation up to 1846 was as follow 10,531 in 1836; 22,859 in 18. 43,112 in 1840; and 102,388 1846.

Sturdy men and women we these early settlers. They car to stay and cultivate the so It took courage to face the tria and dangers of pioneer life, a industry to build up fortunes the frontier.

Many of the early settle came to Iowa before the land

had been surveyed and offered for sale. They did not wait for the surveyor and the auctioneer. They staked out "claims" and proceeded to improve them. They built houses and barns and fences; they broke the prairies and cleared the forests. For their mutual protection in making and holding claims they formed "claim associations" and "land clubs." The constitutions, laws, and resolutions of these extra-legal associations were for the pioneers the "law of the land."

The Constitution of the Territory of Iowa was the Organic

Act passed by Congress in 1838. It served as the fundamental law until the formation of the State government in 1846.

The movement toward the establishment of State government was inaugurated by Governor Lucas, who, in 1839, recommended that the Legislative Assembly memoralize Congress for permission to form a Constitution. This first recommendation bore no fruit. But in 1840 the question of calling a constitutional convention was submitted to the people. It was voted down by a large majority. Again in 1842 the people opposed the calling of

a convention by a decisive vote. It was not until 1844 that a vote was returned by the people in favor of State government.

The first constitutional convention met at Iowa City in October, 1844. It consisted of seventy-two members-fifty-one Democrats and twenty-one Whigs. The Constitution drawn up by this convention was twice submitted to the people in 1845, and twice rejected by them.

The second constitutional convention met at Iowa City in May, 1846. It consisted of but thirty-two members-twenty-two Democrats and ten Whigs. On

August 3rd, the Constitution drafted by this convention was ratified by the people by a majority of 456 votes. With this Constitution as the fundamental law Iowa was admitted into the Union.

As early as 1855 the General Assembly of the State provided for an expression of the people relative to the calling of a convention to revise or amend the Constitution of 1846. The majority in favor of such a convention was over eighteen thousand. In November, 1856, delegates were elected; and in January, 1857, the third constitutional